For Immediate Release Media contact: The Field Museum Greg Borzo 312/665-7106 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org Important Find This fossil was discovered in August 2005 by Forest Preserve workers who were restoring the area to a wetland. At that time, only three molars, a few pieces of tusk and a rib bone were removed for study. This time, scientists hope to discover how big the animal was and how complete the specimen. "The fossil the has the potential to teach us a lot about mastodons and the area, in particular since at about 11,500 years old, it could have been one of the last animals in the region before the species became extinct," Kissel said. "This is important scientific research that might lead to the publication of a scholarly report or an exhibit." Mastodon Camp! will last two weeks. Classroom work and visits to the Field Museum will precede and follow the actual excavation work. The dig will proceed rain or shine, and the work will continue next summer. "This program is special," says Tom Pray, Education Outreach Manager at the Forest Preserve, "because the excavation will be conducted by the general public, under the supervision of professionals. This will be real science, conducted in real time, by every day people. "People love fossils," added Pray. "They have all heard of discoveries in far away places. This discovery was made in their back yard and it will touch them where they live." The public will have a chance to experience the fossil dig during public tours of the excavation site that will run August 7-10, 2007 at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00p.m. Additional information regarding the dig can be found at www.fieldmuseum.org/expeditions, an interactive website that tracks Field Museum research expeditions around the world. Scientists at Mastodon Camp! will file written, photographic, and video dispatches daily from the site, which will allow the public to follow the dig's progress. The public can also subscribe (for free) to receive the dispatches via email. Support for this project provided by The Grainger Foundation. Directions to dig site, from Chicago: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway) west to Route 59 (Barrington, IL). Route 59 South (left turn) to Stearns Road (West Bartlett, IL). Park at the visitor center at 2054 West Stearns Road, Bartlett, on the north (right hand) side of Stearns Road, west of Powis Road. It's a short walk to the dig site. Continue>>